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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Just Stopping By...

Hello, friends! Remember me?

So many of you have very sweetly sent me mails wondering and hoping that we're settling in. Thank you for your warm thoughts - you're all very kind! I'm not ready to come back to full time blogging just yet, but I thought I'd pop in to say hello and to give an update on how things are going with us.

~my two loves~

I'm happy to say all is well! Life with two kiddos has definitely been an adjustment, though. Thankfully, James has accepted Juliet whole-heartedly and that alone has made the transition easier. It's finding time in the day that's been the real challenge for me. Especially when Juliet first came home - the days just flew by. I think last week was the first week when I finally felt like I had a grasp on time. I actually managed to read, knit, and take a shower!! (The latter being the real luxury!)

~we call this look "the church lady" ;D~

My husband was off work for three weeks and then my wonderful sister in law flew over to help for two weeks. And oh my goodness was she ever a help! Not only did she cook, clean, and take care of the kids whenever I needed her to, she found the energy to do school and a variety of fun projects with James (I'll share more about those later). She was also an enormous source of wisdom and support with regard to breastfeeding and childcare. She just left on Saturday and I'm already missing her!

~(at the beach) *yawn* this is the life!~

So, with hubby back at work and my SIL gone, I'm officially on my own now. That was a scary concept to me at first, but after some thought I now feel really good about it. I realized there's not much we haven't already done so there really shouldn't be any major surprises. We've ventured out many times for errands, meals, appointments, fun excursions - in fact, Juliet has already been to the beach and had her little toes dipped in the ocean! I've nursed in public several times (a huge anxiety overcome!), and I've experienced the joys of both kids having a public meltdown at the same time. I'm ready for life with two - bring it on!

~itty bitty feet~

I can't believe our little girl is already 5 weeks old! She's a sweetheart, a cuddle-bug, and one very determined girl. She has one of the loudest cries I've ever heard from a baby! As of last week she weighed 8lbs., 13oz. - up over two pounds from when we left the hospital (she lost some weight during our stay there)! Needless to say she's eating well. :) I'm exclusively nursing her on demand around the clock. She only wakes up a couple of times in the night to eat and then, thankfully, always goes right back to sleep. We're co-sleeping and I think that's the reason I feel surprisingly well rested each morning.

~teeny tiny hands~

My body is still resetting to its pre-pregnancy state. It's strange and amazing at the same time to feel things shifting back into place. Recovery-wise I'm still a bit sore from the c-section, but otherwise I feel quite normal. One thing that's not normal for me is just how hungry I am. Like all.the.time. I feel like I eat non-stop! I've heard this hunger is common for breastfeeding mothers and thanks to the huge calorie burn that occurs while nursing, I've lost over 20 pounds since giving birth!

~beach bum~

James is doing well, too! He's been such a good boy, so helpful and sweet. He's still very much in love with his sister and dotes on her constantly. She's very taken with him, too, and whenever she hears his voice she'll move her head around until she finds him. James has also been enjoying our mini-units and so have I! I love how compact and portable they are.

Well, that's about all for now. I'll try to update again in another few weeks. I have SO many ideas and activities I want to share with you all and I often find myself writing blog posts in my head! Oh, but there is one last thing I do want to mention... in the last 6 weeks I've received dozens of emails with questions - I apologize for not being able to respond to any of them. I can't say exactly when I'll be able to as life is a bit busy for me at the moment. :) Thanks for your understanding and patience! In the meantime, please be sure to check my FAQ post to see if I've already addressed your question(s).

Hope you're all doing well and that your school year is off to a wonderful start!

30 comments:

I remember having to adjust to life with two after a c-section and when your support has to go home...it's hard, isn't it? And a little bit scary! But you'll be fine, and it sounds like you are doing great. Love the pictures you are sharing, makes me remember when my youngest was a baby...four years ago. Enjoy these moments! They don't last long!

Welcome to the world Juliet!! Glad you're all settling into a bit of a groove. I won't say routine because I remember there never was one, I was always at the whim of my girls and just kind of rolled along with it! : ) Enjoy those baby snuggles, it flies by too quickly.

oh what a lovely post! so nice to have this update and see your beautiful babies. you give me confidence too that things will be okay when my baby comes along. i will have two visiting grannies to make my life easier - and am already grateful for that. p.s. i love the church lady face!

Mari-Ann!! You're a Champion!!! So glad you take some time to give us an update!!!lol... So happy to heard from you and your beautiful family!!, You doing great!!! Congrats!! Please continue nursing!!!! That's the best that we can do it for our babies!! Big Hugs!!!!!

So glad you guys are doing well! Life with two IS an adjustment, my second is almost ten weeks and we are still trying to figure out a rhythm that works for everyone, but like yours my kids are totally smitten with each other and that helps!

Very glad the breastfeeding is working for you too, it's working for me the second time around as well and I relate to what you're saying about hunger!! I found this link and thought you might appreciate it: http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2009/05/nourishing-new-mom.html

Hello! We're in the same boat! I gave birth to my girl 5 months ago! It was rough in the beginning trying to set a routine. But we are super moms, we'll managed! I'm still trying hard to figure out how to do home activities as the girl still needs lots of attention. Seems like I can't do much till she's 6 or 7th month old, yikes! Hope you'll do better than me!

Oh, I missed you! Your kids are only little for a short time and they are so much more important than we (strangers) are! So enjoy every single little minute with them! (and we will just have to wait. :)

Awwww! That picture is just melt your heart adorable. Juliet has gotten so big! It was wonderful to get a little update on your family. Your perspective is what will keep you sane during those insane moments & women, you've got the right perspective! Try to take lots of pictures, those first months go by almost in a blur.

Good to hear everything is going well. I went through the same thing when my second one was born. It does get easier as the little one gets older. I totally sympathize with wanting to eat everything in sight while breastfeeding... It's amazing how our bodies work.

:-) I'm weirdly thrilled to "hear" from you. You'd think we were friends or something. LOL I'm glad the adjustment is going well, or that it at least feels doable. Two kids is definitely a huge leap from one kid. I've been doing it for 9 months now. When it's good, it's good. When it's bad, it all goes to poo real fast. :-) But that's also what makes it fun. Controlled chaos.

Mari-Ann, I'm so glad to hear you are getting some good rest and that breastfeeding is still going so well for you - wonderful news!! She is a sweetheart, and so lucky to have such a great big brother (and mama and daddy too, of course). You "sound" very happy and content. Enjoy these baby days and don't worry about blogging just yet. ;) (I know, easier to say than do, right?)

Just found your blog by following links as I searched for sensory play ideas - thank you for lots of inspiration! Lovely to see you are enjoying a new baby, we had a new arrival too just three weeks ago :-) I hope you're having a wonderful time with your little ones.

She is so beautiful. Congrats on your new little family. I know you are on maternity leave but I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award. You can check out more at my blog http://lifelivedinunknown.blogspot.com/2011/10/versatile-blog-award.html.Whenever you have time. I think you are fabulous

I often think of you and hope adjusting to two little ones is going smoothly. I'm delighted that you are doing well and you are so kind to give us all an update. I remember those days of exclusively breastfeeding and co-sleeping and though sometimes hard, I never regret choosing that route. My girl and I are very close I think because of it. Remember to eat, eat and more eat (but good choices). You AND baby need the nutrients. Take care and enjoy because later this time will just echo in memory.

Congratulations! It was so nice to read that you overcame fears of nursing in public. With a 1 yr and 2 yr old, I am still nursing my youngest and it took until baby #2 until I was used to feeding in public. So congrats to you!! Huge accomplishment! And co-sleeping will definitely keep you rested.

Don't rush back to us - we will all still be here when you are ready.

If you need any ideas for infant/older child mix environment, I've done a few posts on our learning environment.